This past month Luke Helmuth interned for HSM. He is leaving today but did an exit interview and asked me some questions. I decided to put the answers up on here. I will post his paper that he wrote about me (for better or worse including the parts that our humbling) this week also.
Luke asked……What are your….
Biblical and theological ideas informing your ministry,
Biblical and theological ideas obviously flow out of the FGBC statement of faith found here http://fgbc.org/whoarewe/covenant-and-statement-of-faith.cfm.
We also have a teaching plan that more specifically sticks to the 7 checkpoints. We want to teach the whole Bible but hope that we have instilled these things in students when they graduate. Authentic Faith, Spiritual disciplines, moral boundaries, healthy relationships, wise choices, and ultimate authority. I am influenced by blogs, books, conferences, etc. but I would lump them all into a young/progressive but conservative viewpoint.
Your self-understanding of the minister’s role in the congregation?
Ephesians 4:11
11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
My job is to equip people to do ministry through the local church. My job is not to be the great all American preacher/teacher as pastoral ministry has been defined. Obviously a pastors gifts aid and fit into the picture as he has gifts to use also, but even his best gifts are also shared and must be developed inside of others.
Your self-understanding of the minister’s role in the community?
My role in the community is like Matthew 5 says, to be “salt and light”. I think often times we downplay the role of believers in the community by uplifting pastors and the things they are supposed to do. Sometimes in the American culture we live in I have a an opportunity to go into schools and counsel or something but I believe most avenues of ministry are available to people who pursue loving people and relationships.
What are your denominational requirements for entering and remaining in the pastorate?
We are not a denomination, we are a fellowship so we do not have th rules that some have. We are autonomous and more like a fleet of ships sailing together. We do have common statement of faith that links us but hiring and pastoral ministry looks different in each church based in their culture and personality. We have a college and seminary we are affiliated with that I graduated from with ministry degrees but not all went there or have ministry degrees. We are licensed and ordained through the local church, but we share our approval/examination process with the NCO district of churches.
Where do you see your ministry growing in the next year?
Spiritually, I want to see us grow in humility. I want to see us grow in loving people and being salt and light. I find living like Jesus so clearly defined the older I get and yet we complicate it and fall short.
Organizationally, I want to see us grow and expand in all directions. We are getting larger so we have to get better at de-centralizing our discipleship and vision. We will not grow until more and more things are handed off to people who are equipped and have a common vision, but are empowered to make ministry happen.
I hope to see HSM grow in developing leaders. We have built a healthy environment of worship that is pointing people to God and giving Him praise weekly. We have a great network of small groups that are multiplying and growing and discipling, but that core needs to become selfless leaders who lead in worship, lead in growing others, and serve and outreach outside of themselves.
Where do you see your ministry growing in the next five years?
I hope that our ministry is reaching far outside of the walls of our church. I want HSM and our ministry to be synonymous with love, hope, and healing to every family and Powell through its image at Liberty high school.
How did you feel called into your vocation?
I think calling is a weird combination of gifting, passion, desire, humility, and opportunity. Truthfully I like doing what I do and can’t imagine not doing it. I prayed to God and asked him to confirm my calling through desire and people in my life. I think the Lord gives you the desires of your heart and confirms calling by opening and closing doors.
How do you plan for a year?
I usually start strategizing in my head and taking notes. I pray through our schedule/teaching/and staff recruitment.
The first things is recruiting adults to do the work of the ministry so that we are engaging the body of Christ.
I design our teaching calendar and series for worship on Wednesdays.
We recruit, train, and group our adults for small groups.
We partner with other ministries in the church by recruiting and suggesting students to serve in roles of service.
What would you change about yourself to make yourself better?
I would make me more humble, clearly spoken, a better teacher and a better equipper of people. (After reading that you wonder what I’m good atJ)
What is your next event idea?
I would like to do a tailgate part in the parking lot of an Olentangy Liberty football game. This would have big idea wow factor but also feed people, let them see us having fun, loving them and also provide visibility for families and younger kids approaching high school. 5,000 people attend an average game and I want to tap into that audience outside of the walls of our church.
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